Myth
When picking lottery numbers you should NEVER pick the numbers that were drawn last week, because there is no chance they will be drawn this week…
Fact
Last weeks numbers still have EXACTLY the same chance of being drawn as every other combination!… Read More
I’ve played the national lottery without fail since it started. Biggest win ever was for 4 numbers and was £97 a way back, but lots of tenners for matching 3. But 14 million to one it’s absolute luck for anyone.
Hi Henry.
True enough. Luck will always be the major factor.
You can do a few things to help your luck along but of course analysing past results isn’t one of them.
LG
Hi. I use a system for picking powerball numbers, Although I understand what you are saying this particular system does for some reason pick some good results. I may not have won big but I feel since I started using it I’ve won more than usual.
Hi Powerball Guy
‘Some good results’ are easily explained by that old devil called… luck!
When people start doing crazy things like analysing past lottery results and therefore putting a lot of time and effort into playing, it’s very common for them to attach a much greater significance to any wins – no matter how small. Just normal human psychology.
[ A bit like the fruit machine player who has a good day, which immediately wipes out all knowledge of the ten bad ones before it
]
I’d recommend a change of game though – that Powerball game has just about the worst possible odds against winning.
LG
Hey lottery guy. How must I analyse past results to pick good lottery numbers, any advice?
Corné, it depends what you mean by ‘good lottery numbers’? Whatever numbers you pick will have exactly the same chance of winning as any others.
Or to put in another way analysing past results is a total waste of time in terms of increasing your chances winning.
If you pick the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6, you will eventually win, and you have exactly the same chances of winning as picking any other numbers. It might take you several thousand years, but you will eventually win the jackpot. If Neolithic man had started playing the Lottery, it is a fair bet that his chances of winning now must be getting quite large.
Hi Eugene.
Technically if Neolithic man was still alive and hadn’t won yet, his chances of winning this week would still be exactly the same as when he first played. Because he’s already lost those past draws and that doesn’t help him win this week. (The future chances of our immortal Neolithic look quite rosy though).
You’re actually far better off playing your entire lifetime of lottery entries all up front in one single game. But that would be a pretty nerve shattering lottery draw and not nearly as much fun
You can’t win unless you play. So is it worth making a small gamble? Let’s say only when the jackpot is over a certain amount. Certainly the odds are no different for winning but the value of the winning ticket is increased. Why not take a chance?
August, not sure I understand your point – I didn’t say don’t play the lottery..? And one of my strategies does include playing when the jackpot is larger. So are we just agreeing..?